Starting means for explosion-engines.



" PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

0. J. COLEMAN. STARTING MEANS FOR EXPLOSION BNGINESQ APPLICATION FILED MAR.11,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Wimsw:

PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

C. J. GOLEMAN.' STARTING MEANS FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR,11,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7 565: I lflvenzorz- Wznew 2 f No. 836,365.

- Rockaway, in the county of Morris and State 'of; New Jersey, have invented certain new the'engine, and means whereby the engine is however, until the engine has attained a preconnectingthe retractive device from the enoperation;

CLYDE, J. ooLEMAN,

ofconstruotion, durability, reliability in opi r chanically-retractive power-storingwdevice, 35

may be connectedwwith te engine at the will ranrme MEANSFOR Specification of Letters Patent.

UNITE STATES PATENT oriuon.

OF ROCKAWAY, NEW JERSEY. ASSIGNOR T O. CONRAD HUBERT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

Patented Novf 20, 1906.

Appli ation fil d March 11, 1904. Serial No. 197,642.

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, CLYDE J. COLE AN, a citizen of the United States, residing at and useful Improvements in Starting Means for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a s ecification, reference being had therein tot eaccompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

My invention relates to starting means for engines not self-starting, such as explosionengines, and means embodying my invention are particularly adapted for use on engines of automobiles by reason of the frequent necessity in the use of automobiles for the performance of the starting 0 oration.

My invention has or its objects simplicity eration, and the realization of other advantages', which will appear from the following specification. i

. My invention includes aresilient or mesuch as a spring or weight, means whereby it of the operator to exert its power in starting thereafter automatically connected with the retraetive device to store power in the retractive device, such connection not being made,

determined speed selected as suitable for the performance of the power-storing operation.

My'invention also includes means for disgine upon the completion of. the power-storing operation, whereby the retractive device, with power stored therein suitable for the performance of another starting operation, remains a disconnected part until it is again called into operation at the will of the operato'r. Thus the engine isnot called upon to tractive device until it has attained a suflicient speed to permit the performance of the power-storing operation without objectionable impairment of its other functions, and the retractive device is disconnected fron. the engine at all times, except when exerting its power in starting the engine or receiving power from the engine in the power-storing My invention also includes more specificcompanying drawingsand will thereafter .point out my invention in claims.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an explosron-en- I gine provided with starting means embodying my invention with the relief-controlling means shown insection. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the lowerportion of the same.

" Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3, Fig.

4. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the directional clutch- Fig. 6 is a detail elevation of the centrifugal clutch.

, The retractive power device in the construction shown is a coiled or helical spring a, which is secured at its inner end to a windingsleeve 1) and at its outer end to a pin 0 on the power arm 0. The winding sleeve 1) is loosely fitted'to rotate on a stud projecting forward froman arm 9 of the starter-frame,

a winding ratchet-wheel b is secured to or formed upon the rear end of the windingsleeve and has two sets of teeth thereon, the teeth of the rear set being engaged by a counterweighted stop-pawl f, having a stationary pivot in the frame-arm 9 and the teeth of the front set being engaged bya winding-pawl d. This winding-pawl d is pivoted in a sprocket-wheel 6, loosely fitted to rotate on the winding-sleeve 1) between the winding ratchet-wheel b and the powerratchet wheel 8. The pivot-pin d of the winding-pawl (1 extends forward through the sprocket-wheel 6 and has an arm e at its front end provided with a pin entering a radial slot in the power ratchet-wheel 8, so

that when the power ratchet wheel is actushaft of the engine.

ated by the power-spring it swings the arm e forward and lifts the winding-pawl d away from the Winding ratchet-wheel b andclear of engagement with the teeth of this ratchet I), thus permitting the sprocket-wheel to be rotated by the power-spring a, with the inner end of the power-spring held stationary by the'sto pawl f. A light spring d normally holdstlie winding-pawl d in engaging position and restores it to engaging'position when .the power aotuation of the power ratchetwheel is disconnected.

The sprocket-wheel 6 is connected by a chain 12 with a sprocket-pi 'on- 14 on a sleeve 13, fitted to rotate free y on the main This loose sleeve 13 carriesa ratchet-wheel 15 of a directional clutch for connecting the sleeve to the engineshaft to start or drive the engine and also carries a cup 16 of a centrifugal clutch also forcon'necting the sleeve and shaft to retract or wind thepower-spring. The cup 17 of the 'clutch and the cup 16 of the centrifugal clutch. being shown as keyed to the sleeve 13.

The directional engaging means or clutch is of roller-grip construction, being provided with gripping-rollers 20, interposed between the ratchet and cup. The direction of rotation of the engine is indicated by the arrow as, Fig. 2. When the power-spring actuates' the sprocket and sleeve to start theengine,

this'directional clutch automatically engages and thepower of the spring is applied to the engine-shaft to drive the engine; but when. the engine is self-actuated with greater power than that applied by the power-spring the directional clutch automatically disen-.

gages, and thus the clutch is effective only to apply the power-actuated movement of the starting means to the engine and automatically relieves the. engine of any drag from the starting meanslat all other times.

The clutch-do s 19 of the centrifugal clutchare norma ly held in disengaged positions by springs 21, these springs being of such'strength as to prevent engagement of the cl'utclrdogs with the cup except under a speed of rotation of the engine appwximatin'g'its maxim um speed, so that the centrifuga "clutch cannot become effective to connect the loose sleeve 13 to the engineshaft exce t at the predetermined. speed of rotation of t e engine. When the centrifugal clutch is thus engaged, the sleeve 13 is actuated by the engi-ne and actumtes the sprocket-wh el to wind' the centrifugal winding means.

rod having a limited reciprocating movethe power-spring, these parts constituting.

The com trifugal clutch is also automatically con trolled, so that it will be disengaged when the power-spring has been wound to the pre determined maximum extent by means of. a

sliding sleeve 22, which is fitted loosely on the shaft 5 and is provided with a doggripping cup engaging with annular arms 23, projecting from the clutch-dogs 19, this gripping-cup being partly conical, so as to'have an oblique engagement with such arms when p it is moved toward the dogs and being part1 cylindrical to form a positive lock for suc arms when the movement toward the dogs has been completed and being controlled by a pivoted yoke 24, entering. an annular exterior groove of this on sleeve 22. v The pivoted yoke 24 is-control ed,by a spring25,- tending to hold the gripping-cup out of operative position, and by a thrustrod 27, both the spring and the thrust-rod engaging the angularrm 26. of the pivoted yoke.

. The thrustrod, 27 coacts with the releasingmechanism of the power-spring a, this go releasing mechanism including a lock-arm 28, normally engaging the pin 0 of the powerarm 0 and extending upward from a sleeve 29, fitted to oscillate on a slide-rod 30, this slidement-in fixed brackets 31 32, extending forward from the arm 9 of the starter-frame. Another arm 33 extends forward from the sleeve 29 and has pivotally connected to. it a hand-rod 34, which has a suitable handle 36 at its upper end and is-depressed by the operator to swing the lock-arm28 forward clear of the power-arm pin 0 to release the-starting mechanism; This hand-rod is controlled by a spring 35, which tends to hold it up and to hold the lock-arm 28 in engaging position, and the handle 36 at the upper end of the hand-rod is suitably located within reach of the operator. i The thrust-rod 27 is .pivotally connected no to a collar 37 on the shderod 30, and the sleeve 29 of the lock-arm 28 is held between collars on the slide-rod 30, so that the thrust of the power-spring a, exerted against the lock-arm 28, tends to move the slide-rod 30 toward the engine, and this thrust is resisted by'th'e spring 25, connected to the clutch-.. yoke arm 26, and the strength of the s ring- 25 is so adjusted relative-1 to the pre. etermined maximum power of the power-spring" a that the dog-gripping cup 22 of the cen trilugal clutch is actuated and movedinto v, engaging position by the thrust of'the powerspring a when the power-spring has been-- wound to this redetermined maxirnumexe tent, thereby w thdrawing the dogs 19 of the centrifugal clutch from eng-agementwith the cup 16 of this clutch and disengagingthe I clutch. I Relief-controlling means are provided for 'is i'ead atanytimeto apply its power to When the operator de--' ceases valve-chest 3 of the engine and adapted to manually operated, and automatic reliefreliefcoc'kcasing. This automatic reliefcontrolling means comprises a double. valve 41, and a controlling-spring 42. When the engine is to be started,the relief-cock 40 is isi'on pressureof the engine to hold the valve intermediateposition, so as to relieve compression during the starting' operation, and yieldsto theexplosion pressure and closes outward, 'therehy'confiniiig the gases of ex plosio'n and permitting their full utilization. in the'e ngine..; Further, asthe speed.

giving the; engine a rapid forward impulse and?heingfollowedihy.a failure or repeated fai lures to 'explodel' Such a rapid forward 'impul'sefmay i'nomentarily actuate the engine more rapidlyflthanl-the power-starter; but ,the power-starter is constantly following the eng ne may give .a backwardkick; but

i :l i .1 the {power-starter ..resists' and quickly oven.

3 comes any. suchoppo sitionlv In the foperation,of'the-starting means the the engine, effected through the centrifugal clutch-,"is discontinued when thepoWer-spring a has been wound to its, redetermined maximum extent, and there orethe power-springthus wound and' locked by the lock-arm 28 start 1; e engine. v

presses the hand-rod 34,-the loekarm 28 is tilted forward clear of .the power-arm pin 5 O and the power-spring is thereby released and through the power-pawl 7 andratchet 8 j d'rives the sprocket-wheel 6, and the motion of the sprocket-wheel is imparted through the chain 12 to theloose sleeve 13, and the. parts of the directional clutch 15 2,0 17 engage and drive the main shaft 5 of the engine.- The operator holds the hand-rod 34 down until the engine is self-actuated, and the'sprocket-wheel 6 may rotate as many times as is desirable for the complete performance of the starting operation up to the -limit of the power of the power-spring a. The relief-controlling means coact with the ower-starting means, as above explained. en the engine has been started and is ontrolling 'inean's .upon "an extension. of the opened The controlling-spring holds the (double valve normally in inner closed posi- I tiori,butyields'sufficiently to the compresandfully utilizes everyadvantage, so, also,

winding. or" power-starting connection withfully self-actuated, the operator releases the hand-rod 34, the spring 35 lifts it and the lock-arm 28 to normal position, and the power-arm pin 0 is brought to rest against the lock-arm 2S. 'The'tiltingforward of the lock-arm 28-to release the power-spring also relieves the slid e-rod. 30 from the pressure of the power-spring and permits the spring 25 of. .the yoke 24 of'the dog-gripping cup 22 to actuate the yoke 24- and connected parts, withdrawing the doggripping cup 22 from its engagement with-the arms 23 of the dogs 19' of the centrifugal clutch, and this releasing the dogs 19,so that they are free to perform their centrifugally controlled operation. The engagement of the parts of the centrifugal clutch d oes not occur, however,

until the predeterminedspeed of the engine for the performance of the power-storing or winding operationhas been attained and is not continued unless such predetermined speed. is capable of being maintained during such power-storing operation, sothat the opera-tion of winding the power-spring is not permitted to measurably impair the efi'ec tiveness 'of the engine. When the power-' "sprin a has been Wound to its predeterlIlllIiGC maximum extent, the pressure of the power-spring against the lock-arm 28'overcomes the resistance'of the yoke-spring 25,95 and the dog-gripping cup 22 performs its function of withdrawing and holding in the dogs of the centrifugal clutch, andthe starting mechanism is'wound' and locked and ready to'again start the engine. 4 '160 It is obvious that various modifications may, be made intheconstruction shown and above particularlydescribed within thespirit and scope of my invention. What I claim, and desirev to secure by Let tersPatent,isa i 1. hirengine starter comprising a mechan-- ical power-storing device, and means for 'connecting the power-storing device, with an en'- gine to start theengine and for automatically connecting the engine with the power storing device, under the control-of the speedof the engine, to store power in the -power-storing device upon and not until the attainment of a predeterminedspeed of the engine sufficient 1 I 5 for the power-storing operation.

2. An engine-starter com rising a mechanical power-storing device, rivin means engageable only in one direction of movement for connecting the power-storing device with I 20 an engine to start the engine, automatic means under the control of the speed of the engine for connecting the engine with the power-storing device to storepower in the power-storing device upon and not until the [2 attainment of a predetermined. speed of the engine sufiicient for the power-storing operation, means for disconnecting the engine and power-storingdevice to discontinue thepowerstoring operation, and means controllable 1 0 4;, I ace-s65 by the operator'i'or restraining the powerstorlng device to maintain the power-storing con ditlon thereof and for releasing the powerv storing device to perform the starting'operation.

3. An engin estarterco nprising a mechanical power-storing device, means iorconneetingtlle power-storing device with an engine to start the engine, and centrihigally-operated means for connecting the engine with the power-storing device to store power in the power-storing device upon the attain.- ment of a predetermined. speed of the en ine. 4. An engine-starter comprisin a mec 1811- ical power-storing device, means orconnecting the power-storing device with an engine to'start the engine, a centrifugal clutch for connecting the engine with the power-storing devitie'to store power in the power-storing device upon the. attainment of a predetermined speed. of the en inc, and automatic means for disengaging t 1e centrifugal clutch to discontinue the power-storing operation.

5. An-engine-starter comprising a mechanical power storing device, engine driving means engageable only'in one direction of movement for connecting the'poWer-storin device with an engine to start'the engine, an centriiugally-operated means for connecting the englne with'the power-storing device upon the attainment of apredetermined speed ofthe engine. r

' 6. An engine-starter comprising a mechanical power-storing device, engine driving means engageable only in one directionof movement for connecting the ower-storing device with an engine to startthe engine, a

' centrifugal, clutch'for connecting the engine with the power-storing deities upon the attainment of a predeterrri iifedspeed of the on- ,speed of the engine.

means for connecting -t gine, and automatic means for. disen the centrifugal clutch to discontinrie thi power-storing operation.

7. An engine-starter comprising a power-- spring, engine driving means engageable 45 only in one direction of movement connected to one end of the sprin and a centrifu al clutch for connecting t e engine with it e other end of the spring to wind the sprin upon the attainment of a predetermine 5o 8. An engine-starter comprising a powerspring, means for connecting thespring with .the engine to start the engine, a centrifu al clutch for connecting the engine with t e 55 springto store power in the s ring upon the attainment of predetermine speed of .the. engine, and means controllable b thespring for disengaging the centrifugal eiiitchto dis- :continue the power-storing operation. 6e

engine and. a centrifu nectlng such. rotatab e I liart to the engme,

power arm and 7o rotatable wheel to start the engine, and winding means for connecting'the rotatab wheel and spring, substantially as set forth Intestimony whereof I have affixedin signature inpresence of two witnesses;

Witnesses:

HENRY D..WILLIAMS, HERBERT H. Gums, 

